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E1795e - Impact of Kumamoto Earthquake on Libraries

Current Awareness-E No.303

19 May, 2016

Impact of Kumamoto Earthquake on Libraries

Major damage has been caused by series of earthquakes that occurred between April 14 and 16, 2016 in Kumamoto Prefecture. Epicenters were Kumamoto and Aso regions, and the seismic intensity of these earthquakes were over six-lower, including two sevens. This article reports situations of libraries affected by the earthquake based on information through May 18, 2016. Please note that information has not been fully covered due to difficulties in obtaining information about regions with major damage.

●Impact on Libraries

Several public and university libraries in and around Kumamoto Prefecture announced temporal closure after the earthquake. Some libraries have released information about damage on library materials as well as situations of the library on its websites and through SNS. These include Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza Library of Kumamoto City where sprinklers broke and materials were damaged by the earthquake, as well as Jonan Library and Jonan Children’s House. In other libraries in Kyushu region, collections fell off the bookshelves, and events were cancelled in consideration for aftershocks. https://twitter.com/info66214669https://www.facebook.com/stsplazahttp://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160504008.xhtml

●Museums, Art Museums, and Archives

This section reports trends of national and regional councils as well as networks of museums, art museums, and archives. Also reported are situations of facilities within Kumamoto Prefecture.

Among councils and networks, The Japan Society of Archives Institutions began posting information on damage suffered by member institutions on its website on April 15, and has updated information since then. On April 15 and 18, Natural History Museum Network of Western Japan released information about damage on natural history museums caused by Kumamoto Earthquake. On April 22, The Japanese Council of Art Museums established Liaison Office on Kumamoto Earthquake within its head office (The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo Prefecture) and began collecting information on situations of damage among member museums. http://www.jsai.jp/rescueA/2016EQ/201604EQ.htmlhttp://www.naturemuseum.net/blog/2016/04/post_60.htmlhttp://www.zenbi.jp/data_list.php?g=91&d=470

●Libraries with Announcements to Resume Services

Libraries that completed safety check and recovered materials, as well as some libraries under recovery, have announced to reopen or to resume services. Following public libraries within Kumamoto Prefecture have announced to reopen along with its hours. Some libraries have shortened hours.

Minamata City Library (April 19)

Uki City Library (April 20 excluding Shiranuhi Library)

Kikuyo Town Library (April 21)

Yatsushiro City Library (Sencho and Kagami Branches reopen on April 25 while the main branch opens on April 28)

Kumamoto City Library (Shimizu Community Center Library Room reopens on April 26. All branches excluding Seibu Community Center Library Room (scheduled to reopen on May 24) will reopen by May 17)

Kikuchi City Library (Shichijo and Central Community Center Library Room reopen on April 28.

Shisui Library and Kyokushi Community Center Library Room reopen on May 2)

On April 21, Film Preservation Society (specified non-profit corporation) began accepting requests for consultation on cleaning damaged 8mm films and video tapes. http://filmpres.org/whatsnew/6734/

On April 21, The Kyushu Society of Historical Science, in partnership with Historical Materials Network, began to collect information on the situations of cultural properties and historical materials in regions of Kyushu affected by the disaster. http://kyurekiken.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/04/21/225601

On April 23, Rescue Network for Damaged Historical Documents in Kumamoto (熊本被災史料レスキューネットワーク) or Kumamoto Shiryo Net (熊本史料ネット) was established with its secretariat in Kumamoto University Eisei-Bunko Research Center. http://siryo-net.jp/disaster/kumamoto_siryonet/

On April 21, Japan Association of National University Libraries released a website titled “Assistance on Library Services for 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (平成28年熊本地震への図書館サービス支援).” This website succeeded “Circle of Support on Library Services Expands (図書館サービス支援の輪が広がっています)” available on the website of Kumamoto University Library. It summarizes support services for students, faculty, and staff in disaster affected regions particularly around national university libraries. On May 13, Japan Medical Library Association also released a list of member libraries that support disaster affected regions. http://www.janul.jp/j/news/2016_Kumamoto_earthquakes.htmlhttp://plaza.umin.ac.jp/~jmla/info/shinsai_kanrentaio_2016.html

On April 21, National Association of Institutions of Information Service for Visually Impaired Persons launched a project to provide information to visually impaired persons. Its hub will be located in Kumamoto Braille Library.http://www.naiiv.net/kumamoto/

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